Pruning the Home Orchard

Home Gardening Advice from the Help Desk of the
UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County

Client's Request (from previous phone conversation):  I've just moved into my new house. There's a small “fruit tree orchard” in the back garden. I'm not acquainted with growing fruit trees, but my neighbor tells me that the previous owner pruned them this time of year. Can you give me some advice on what and where to prune the trees.

MGCC Help Desk Response:  Thank you for contacting the UC Master Gardener Program's Help Desk. 

In our earlier phone conversation this morning, I neglected to ask you about all the fruit trees you have to prune. I may have also led you astray suggesting that most fruit trees can be pruned this time of the year. Apricots cannot be pruned in winter, especially with frequent rains. They just won't tolerate the moisture of the season.

You may be interested in a free Master Gardener library talk about growing apples and pears on Feb. 28 at the Lafayette Library from 6-8 pm.  I am sure pruning will come up during that talk. To RSVP or to ask about upcoming talks contact higginssierra@gmail.com.

Since you are beginning on your newly acquired "home orchard" and you have several different types of fruit trees, below are a number of links from UC that you might consult for both general and specific information on tree pruning.

General and Specific Information for the Home Orchard, including pest control and pruning, please see: http://homeorchard.ucanr.edu/. This one reference will probably cover most of your concerns.

Figs:  hhttp://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/GARDEN/FRUIT/ENVIRON/figpruning.html

Cherries:  http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/GARDEN/FRUIT/CULTURAL/cherpruning.html

Citrus:  http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/GARDEN/FRUIT/CULTURAL/citruspruning.html

Tree Pruning:  http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/GARDEN/PLANTS/CULTURAL/pruningtrees.html

Vine (e.g. grape) Pruning:  http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/GARDEN/FRUIT/ENVIRON/trainprune.html

Good luck on your home orchard.

Thank you for contacting us. Let us know if we can be of further service.  

Help Desk of the UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County

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Note: The  UC Master Gardeners Program of Contra Costa's Help Desk is available year-round to answer your gardening questions.  Except for a few holidays, we're open every week, Monday through Thursday for walk-ins from 9:00 am to Noon at 75 Santa Barbara Road, 2d Floor, Pleasant Hill, CA  94523. We can also be reached via telephone:  (925) 646-6586, email: ccmg@ucanr.edu, or on the web at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/Ask_Us/ MGCC Blogs can be found at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/HortCoCo/ You can also subscribe to the Blog  (//ucanr.edu/blogs/CCMGBlog/).